Collapsible headgear



March 26, 1968 R. c. ERBB COLLAPSIBLE HEADGEAR 2 SheetsSheet 1 Filed Oct. 23, 1965 INVENTOR. RUTH c. 4 x55 WQV March 26, 1968 R. c. ERBB COLLAPSIBLE HEADGEAR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001;. 23, 1965 INVENTOR. 07 6. 5x5

BY M2 Win 0. L

Anna/var United States Patent Ofllice 3,374,488 Patented Mar. 26, 1968 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A collapsible headgear comprising a conventional umbrella-like frame having a flexible cover secured to a plurality of ribs hinged to a central stem, hinge mountings centrally of said ribs, a plurality of radial brace members hingedly secured to said hinge mountings at one of their ends and at the other of their ends to an elongated central ferrule adapted for slidable engagement and disengagement with respect to said stem, said ferrule and brace members when in full engagement with said stem being above the plane of said hinge mountings and being yieldably supported in said locked position by the tension of said flexible cover, each of said hinge mountings also hingedly supporting a strut member downwardly extending from each rib, said strut members being of substantially uniform length and being fixedly secured to the upper edge portion of a resiliently flexible head encircling band, said band being gradually tapered from a wide front portion to a relatively narrow rear portion, at least two of said struts at the front of said band extending substantially straight down from said hinge mountings and engaging said band at positions widely spaced from each other and from adjacent side struts, and spaced pairs of struts at the side and rear of said band extending downwardly from said hinge mountings at convergent angles to dispose the band engaging ends of each of said pairs in close proximity to each other, whereby said band in extended head engaging position is disposed in a forwardly offset position with respect to the center of said frame, and is supported against relative rotary movement with respect to said frame. A preferred adaptation of the device has eight ribs and eight struts with two of said struts extending straight down from the hinge mountings and the other six being arranged in three convergent pairs.

The broad idea of utilizing an umbrella-like frame in headgear intended as sun and rain shields is very old in the art, but for some reason such headgear have not, in the past, gained extensive use. This may be due to the fact that the head engaging means have been cumbersome, unsightly and uncomfortable.

An object of the present invention is to provide in a collapsible headgear, an associated head engaging structure which is neat in appearance, comfortable in use, and which inherently supports the umbrella-like frame with adequate firmness and at a practical orientation to the head.

A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible headgear of the character described, which is particularly adapted for use by men, but is also suitable for use by women with simple hair styles, which is practical as a sun and/ or rain shield while engaged in various activities, and particularly while watching ball games, races and other sporting events.

These and other objects of the invention will be ap parent from a consideration of the following description together with the accompanying drawing, in which a preferred adaptation of the invention has been illustrated, with the various parts identified by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view showing the headgear in use;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the headgear extended as seen from the underside;

FIG. 3 is a view substantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in the direction of the arrows 44 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view in the direction of the arrows 5-5 in FIG. 3.

As shown in the drawing, the new collapsible headgear comprises an umbrella-like frame of generally conventional construction embodying a plurality of ribs 11 hinged at their inner ends 12 to a ring member 13 which is anchored to a short stem part 14. Centrally of each rib 11 is a hinge mounting 15 for a radial brace member 16, and the several brace members are hingedly joined at 17 to a central ferrule 18 havinga central passage 19 adapted to freely slide over the stem part 14. The braces 16 are of a length to extend the ribs 11 to the desired angle as shown in FIG. 3 in the locked position as illustrated, and it will be apparent that downward movement of the ferrule 18 (against the yieldable tension of the cover hereinafter described) to a position below the plane of the hinge mountings 15 will unlock the frame and permit collapsing of the ribs 11 in typical umbrella fashion.

A distinguishing feature of the frame 10 is the short stem 14, the lower end 14a of which terminates substantially flush with the bottom of the ferrule 18. The fact that there is no protrusion of the stem below the ferrule 18 is important from the standpoint of comfort in avoiding contact of any protuberance with the head of the wearer.

Mounted on the frame 10 is a conventional umbrellalike cover 20 made up of a plurality of sectors 21 equal in number to thenumber of ribs 11 and stitched together in radial lines which will overly the ribs 11. It will be noted that while 8 ribs 11 and sectors 23 have been shown in the drawing, this number can be any number from about 6 to 16 for creating varied appearance and decorative effects.

At the outer end of the juncture of each pair of sectors 21, there is secured a conventional socket member 22 adapted to receive the end of a rib 11 as the cover is assembled to the frame. The cover 20 can be fashioned from various types of close-woven fabrics, plastics, or other flexible sheet materials, and may be made waterproof if necessary by conventional treatment.

The stem 14 extends through the center of the cover 29 as clearly seen in FIG. 3 of the drawing, and is suitably provided with a flanged shield 23- secured to the stem 14 by a pin or fastener 24.

Ease of the hinge mountings 15 is provided with a downwardly extended strut 25 for mounting a head engaging assemblage 26 to the frame 10; and it is the construction of the head engaging assemblage 26, and the manner of engaging the same with the struts 25 that imparts the novelty and distinctiveness to the new device.

The head engaging assemblage 26 comprises a head encircling band 27 fashioned from stretch fabric or other freely yieldable sheet material and is gradually tapered from a relatively broad front portion 28 to a substantially narrower rear portion 29. The upper edge 30 has stitched, or otherwise secured thereto, a sheet of flexible material, suitable of open work or net construction, providing a cap member 31 adapted to assume a dome contour as indicated in FIGS. 3 to 5 when in use.

The tapered band 27 has the effect of inclining the head engaging unit 26 with respect to the frame 10 as will be clearly apparent from FIGS. 3 to 5 of the drawing. In addition however, it will be noted that the head engaging assemblage 26 is positioned forwardly of the 3 .7 center of the frame as ,will be clearly evident in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the, drawing. This is accomplished by the manner of securing the struts 25 adjacent the upper edge 30 of the head encircling band 27; The front struts 25a extend substantially straight down from the hinge mountings 15, and can assume a slightly divergent relationship as shown in FIG. 4 as the band 27 is stretched. Adjacent pairs of struts 25 at the sides and rear of the device are arranged at convergent angles to bring the ends 25b thereof into close proximity asthey engage the head encircling band 27. It will be noted that the lower ends of the struts 25 may be secured to the band 27 by means of stitches, staples, or other fastening means 32. V v

The angular arrangement of the side and rear struts 25 have a substantial stabilizing effect, particularly, in preventing relative rotary motion between the head engaging assemblage and the frame 10; while the individually mounted struts 25a at the front of the device provide enhanced comfort and freedom in adapting to different head sizes. It has been found that the type of firm support provided by this arrangement of the struts provides an effective support of the frame 10 even when exposed to relatively high winds or quick head movements by the wearer. Furthermore, the forward and angular orientation of the head encircling unit 26 as above described automatically orients the collapsible frame and cover assemblage to the head of the wearer in a manner to effectively shield the face from sun and/ or rain while providing the full range of vision desired when watching ball games, races and other sporting vents. In line with the foregoing, the somewhat greater rearward extension and downward inclination at the rear of the device provides enhanced protection for the neck of the wearer from exposure to sun and/ or rain.

Since the head engaging assemblage 26 is fashioned wholly of flexible material, it will be apparent that it is readily collapsed and stored within the folds of the cover 20 when the device is collapsed in umbrella-like fashion. In this connection, it will also be noted that when opening and closing the device, the flexibility of the material of the member 31 permits the ferrule 18 to be readily grasped and manipulated from the inside of the head encircling assemblage 26.

Various changes and modifications in the headgear herein described will occur to those skilled in the art, and to the extent that such changes and modifications are embraced by the appended claims, they are understood to constitute part of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A collapsible headgear comprising a flexibly covered umbrella-like frame having a short stem and a ring member anchored thereto centrally of said umbrella-like frame, six to sixteen radial ribs hingedly secured to said ring and extending outwardly therefrom, hinge mountings centrally of said radial ribs, a plurality of radial brace members hingedly secured to said hinge mountings at one of their ends an elongated central'ferrule in alignment with saidstem hingedly securing the other ends of said radial brace members, said elongated central fer rule adapted for slidable engagement and disengagement with respect to said stern, said steam being completely concealed and said brace members being inclined above the plane of said hinge mountings in the fully engaged position of said ferrule, the flexible cover of said frame providing sufficient tension to support said ferrule in fully engaged position, while permitting its forcible removal from said stem to collapse said frame, said hinge mountings also hingedly supporting a strut member at one end downwardly extending from each rib, a resiliently flexible head-encircling band, said strut members being of substantially uniform length and being fixedly secured at the other end to the upper edge portion of said resiliently flexible head encircling band, said resiliently flexible band being gradually tapered from a wide front portion to a relatively narrower rear portion, at least two ofsaid struts at the font of said band extending substantially straight down from said hinge mountings and engaging said band at positions widely spaced from each other and from adjacent side struts, and spaced pairs of struts at the side and rear of said band extending downwardlyfrom said hinge mountings at convergent angles to dispose the band engaging ends of each such pair in close proximity to each other, whereby said band in extended head-engaging position is disposed in a forwardly oifsetposition with respect to the center of said frame and is supported against relative rotary movement with respect to said frame.

2. A collapsible headgear as defined in claim 1, wherein a dome-shaped cap member of flexible material is peripherally secured to the upper edge of said band, said cap member when in extended head engaging position, being in closely spaced relation to said braces and ferrule engaged stem.

3. A collapsible headgear as defined in claim 1, wherein said umbrella-like frame contains 8 ribs and is provided with 8 downwardly extending struts, and the two front struts extend straight down from said hinge mountings and join said band at points widely spaced from each other and from the convergent side struts.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 276,753 5/1883 Bartine 2177 XR 2,140,647 12/1958 Myers 2177 2,153,146 4/1939 Holmes 2175 2,421,633 6/1947 Lyon 27 2,869,136 1/1959 Wang 2177 3,049,720 8/1962 Caine 2-177 XR JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

G. H. KRIZMANICH, Assistant Examiner. 

